Post Game Interview with mark jones.
Vanarama National League South – 27th September 2022 Match report by Allan Mitchell
Mark Jones ever improving side made it six games unbeaten in league and cup with a fully deserved win over Tonbridge at Vauxhall Road. The only negative was that they didn’t win by more than just the one goal on the night.
Hemel were on the front foot for long periods of the game with Tonbridge employing a counter attacking strategy that rarely caused Craig King any problems in the Tudors goal. The Tudors lost the unfortunate Kyle Ajayi on 37 minutes after he tweaked his knee as he fell going for a header. He tried to run it off but it was clear he couldn’t continue and he was replaced by Jack Westbrook.
Ogo Obi, Dom Morgan-Griffiths and Kory Roberts all had decent chances in the first half and the home crowd had to wait until the 40th minute before their side broke the deadlock, Ogo Obi raced into space deep into the Tonbridge half, he had options but he switched inside before unleashing a superb shot from the edge of the box that left ex Tudor Jonathan Henly grasping at thin air. Half-Time 1-0
Tonbridge almost equalized with their first real effort on goal at the start of the second half when a quick free kick caught Hemel’s back line out and Joe turner found himself in space just outside the six yard box. He opted to hit the ball first time and scuffed his effort into the grateful arms of Craig King, The Angels man really should have done better and it was a bit of a let off for the home side.
Hemel settled again and Josh Castiglione made superb run from the half way line shortly after and as the Tonbridge defence opened up for him, expecting him to knock it out wide, Josh drove into the box but couldn’t get any power on his shot and Henly saved it on the stretch. The Tudors continued to pile forward in the search for a second goal but they just couldn’t find the target with Illunga, Dada and Obi all going close. In the final minutes Hemel had a free kick on the edge of the area after Ilunga had been felled as he attempted to break clear. The resulting kick was driven into the wall and Tonbridge raced away down the left, the ball was crossed in but looked to be looping under the crossbar until King put an outstretched hand up and tipped it over the bar. It would have been an injustice if it had gone in and with hindsight, maybe Hemel would have been better to have knocked the free kick into the corner to take up the remaining time but fortunately the cross, come shot stayed out and the referee blew his whistle shortly after. Next up is a trip to Peterborough Sports in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, a game Manager Mark Jones admits won’t be easy but he is keen to have a good run in the competition so they will be giving it their all.
Hemel: Craig King, Kyle O’Connor-Ajayi (Jack Westbrook 37) Jernade Meade (Josh Lelan 82) Charlie Barker, Kory Roberts, Godfrey Poku, Josh Castiglione, Dominic Morgan Griffiths, Nathum Melvin-Lambert (Dara Dada 65) Ogo Obi, Brooklyn Ilunga. Subs not used: Ryan Hope, Bayley Brown. Attendance 349
Tudors Man of the Match: Kory Roberts – another excellent performance from Mr Consistent
Comments